Deputy Mine Manager

Job summary

Behind every mission and operation, the Ministry of Defence relies on expert functions to drive our mission forward. From HR, Finance, and Legal to Security, Procurement, and Communications, our teams enable Defence to deliver today and be ready for the challenges of tomorrow.

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This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As Deputy Mine Manager, working in a uniquely challenging subterranean environment, you’ll assist with the safe and efficient operation of the mine, in line with the Mines Regulations 2014 (MR14) and all relevant Health, Safety, Environmental Protection and Security policies.

You’ll assist with holding the legal responsibility for ensuring all activity undertaken in the mine, is in accordance with regulatory and safety standards.

You’ll deputise for the Mine Manager in their absence and be regarded as such during that period, carrying out the Manager’s duties and be capable of undertaking all their responsibilities.

You’ll co-ordinate activities to help ensure a safe working environment for all within the mine, taking all reasonably practicable measures to protect employees, contractors, and visitors, while maintaining full compliance with MR14 and wider MOD policy.

In the event of an emergency, you’ll support the Mine Manager (or lead, if acting Mine Manager) to assume immediate command, providing clear, decisive leadership, to safeguard life and protect the continuity of operations.

You’ll build strong, collaborative relationships with all key stakeholders, including PFI contractors, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), Military Training teams, Capita Fire, Head of Establishment, HM Inspectorate of Mines and mines rescue, ensuring clear communication and a shared understanding of responsibilities. You’ll provide informed advice and direction on the MR14 and HS&EP policies, working together to maintain a safe, compliant environment, that meets the requirements of MR14.

In addition, you’ll be responsible for the management of the Health & Safety Management System, to ensure all relevant requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) are being met in adherence with MR14 and ensure our Environmental Protection arrangements are in line with site and MOD policies

Responsibilities

• Uphold advice & direction given by the Mines Manager to external contractors, and other stakeholders, on MR14 and issues as necessary, working collaboratively and providing advice & direction as required.
• Support the Mine Manager projects in activities related to the Heritage Partnership Agreement (HPA) with Historic England, Wiltshire Council and DIO.
• Maintain and enforce the Mine Safety Management System (SMS), that reflects the legal responsibilities of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA), in coordination with MR14.
• Oversee arrangements and risks for Environmental Protection ensuring compliance with MOD and legal requirements, liaising with HS&EP colleagues as required within the Head of Establishment Team.
• Ensure other major risks, such as Asbestos Management, Radon, Spores and Emergency Evacuation procedures, are assessed and managed through risk assessments, policy and arrangements, with regular reviews.
• Review and deliver the Underground H&S Induction Training Brief, as required for all operatives who will be working underground.
• Represent the Mine Manager in their absence.
• Maintain information records, logs and files to meet regulatory requirements and MOD policies relating to HSWA, ensuring all are current with any changes to legal requirements.
• Undertake line management duties, mentoring and countersigning tasks as required.

Person specification

Please ensure that your CV and application meet the essential criteria below:

We are looking for a safety driven professional, with the ability to adapt and apply working health and safety knowledge and experience to an underground environment. You’ll bring proven experience in managing Health, Safety, and Environmental requirements, within a complex organisational environment.

You’ll be able to evidence working to strict safety procedures, upholding regulatory and statutory compliance, and the identification of hazards and changing environmental conditions, making clear, confident decisions, that always put people and site integrity first.

You’ll need to be an authoritative leader, who can effectively manage contractors, specialists and visitors to the mine. You’ll need a practical approach, be a proactive problem solver and able to quickly identify issues underground and be equipped to propose workable, balanced solutions.

Qualifications (mandatory on application):

• IOSH Managing Safely

Additional qualifications required to be undertaken whilst in post (training provided):

• Management of asbestos in buildings (P405)
• MPQC MAUK Safe in the Underground Environment (L2)
• MPQC MAUK Mine Supervisor (L4)

If not already held, opportunity may also be available to gain the following in this role:

• NEBOSH National General Certificate

Additional information

Please note:

This role includes participation in an on-call rota, which may require attending site outside normal working hours to respond to incidents within the mine. An on-call allowance is attached to this responsibility.

The postholder must be physically able to respond effectively in an emergency, as there is a requirement to ascend, and coordinate others, up the equivalent of approximately 200 + steps (emergency exits).

Dependent on the business need, there may be a requirement to travel to meetings within the UK (or potentially occasional overseas visits).

Qualifications

IOSH Managing Safely

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Law, Policy & Guidance
• Stakeholder Management

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Our benefits include:

• Learning and development tailored to your role with a dedicated minimum of 5 days per year
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (by 1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of five years’ service
• Ability to roll up to 10 days annual leave per year
• In addition to eight public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Parental and Adoption Leave
• Discounts on a range of services within and external to the civil service – Defence Discount Service, Civil Service societies for Sports and Leisure, Healthcare, Insurance, Motoring, Company discounts with Virgin, Vodafone, and Microsoft Office.
• In year rewards and ‘thank you’ schemes suc